Question Time

STATE BUDGET

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My question is to the Treasurer. After the Treasurer framed last year's budget for families, why do we now have the nation's highest taxes, the nation's highest capital city water prices, the nation's slowest growth in wages but fastest growth in inflation, the lowest consumer—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order. You don't have to go very far: asserting that we have the highest taxes is argument and, therefore, disorderly.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Unley!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: You are the complete man, aren't you?

The SPEAKER: Order! There is considerable argument in that question, Leader of the Opposition, but you have asked the question now, so I will get the Treasurer to respond.

Mrs REDMOND: I had not quite finished, Madam Speaker. There are 20,000 fewer full-time jobs in South Australia and an interest bill on the state debt of nearly $2 million a day.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of the Opposition. Treasurer, do you wish to respond to that question?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:19): I will happily respond to that question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —although I think you would be using the word 'question' rather loosely. The fact is that we have suffered from a—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —massive revenue write-down, $2.8 billion, and what is driving that revenue write-down? Well, I think there are several factors. There can be no doubt that consumers are being very cautious and, in fact, that has been reflected in recent surveys. Why are they cautious? Well, of course, they are seeing the international factors; they are seeing the eurozone crisis; there is anxiety about a number of things that are happening at the moment, and that is causing a dampening of consumer confidence. And, of course, we also had the lowest number of property transactions in 25 years. People are just not—and South Australia is not unique—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left will be quiet.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: This is something that has been experienced across Australia—consumer caution—people not being prepared to engage in large financial commitments at the present time. And, of course, state revenues are very much driven by these sorts of transaction taxes, principally stamp duty and GST, and that is where we have had the biggest revenue write-downs. I have said that ignoring this revenue write-down is not an option, and everything—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —is on the table. In the preparation for Thursday's budget—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley will leave the chamber for 30 minutes.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I should point out that there has been significant tax relief provided by the government over 10 years and, if my memory serves me correctly, by the end of the forward estimates, approximately $3 billion in tax relief would have been provided by this government over our time in office, and that is something of which I am incredibly proud.